The Chadian Supreme Court, on Thursday, May 21, affirmed the 20-year prison sentence previously handed down to former Prime Minister and leader of the Les Transformateurs party, Succès Masra. This definitive ruling has immediately ignited a wave of disappointment and condemnation among his supporters.

In a formal statement, Les Transformateurs asserted that the Chadian judicial system squandered a historic opportunity by upholding the verdict initially delivered against their president last year.

The party vehemently denounced the profoundly political nature of the trial, emphasizing that this decision by the Supreme Court “reaffirms, once again, the deeply political character of President Masra’s arbitrary detention, which has now lasted 371 days.” They contend that this action is designed to sideline a prominent opposition figure from the national political arena.

Furthermore, the opposition party criticized the judiciary for its apparent disregard of numerous global voices that had called for Masra’s release, highlighting injustices and advocating for fundamental principles of the rule of law. Advocates for the former Chadian Prime Minister also expressed significant concern regarding his health, which they reported has “considerably deteriorated.”

Masra was found guilty of criminal conspiracy and complicity in murder following the tragic Mandakao massacre, which occurred in May 2025 in a village within the Logone Occidental province. With all national legal avenues now exhausted, the legal team representing the opposition figure is reportedly exploring options to appeal to international jurisdictions.